Why Collect Contaminant Information?

Why is Information on Disinfection
Byproducts Being Collected?

There is a very large population potentially exposed to disinfection
byproducts through drinking water. Over 200 million people are served by water systems which
apply a disinfectant (e.g., chlorine) to water in order to provide protection
against microbial contaminants. While these disinfectants are effective in
controlling many harmful microbes, they combine with natural organic and
inorganic matter in the water and form disinfection byproducts, some of which
may pose health risks. One of the most complex questions facing water supply
professionals is how to minimize the risks from these disinfection byproducts
and still control microbial contaminants.

Why is Information on Pathogens Being
Collected?

In 1990, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB), an independent panel of
experts established by Congress, cited drinking water contamination as one of
the most important environmental risks and indicated that disease-causing microbial
contaminants (i.e., bacteria, protozoa, and viruses) are probably the greatest
remaining health risk management challenge for drinking water suppliers (USEPA
SAB 1990). This view was prompted by the SAB's concern about the number
of waterborne disease outbreaks in the U.S. Between 1980 and 1994, 379
waterborne disease outbreaks were reported, with over 500,000 cases of disease.
During this period, a number of agents were implicated as the cause, including
protozoa, viruses, and bacteria, as well as several chemicals. Most of the cases
(but not outbreaks) were associated with surface water, and specifically with a
single outbreak of cryptosporidiosis in Milwaukee (over 400,000 cases).

Pathogen information in the ICR is being collected from raw untreated sources.